2017/18 was an unmitigated disaster for Sporting. Several players, including Gelson Martins and new Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio, ripped up their contracts and headed elsewhere after being attacked at the club’s training ground by their own fans.

Amid the madness they missed out on Champions League qualification, and then lost 2-1 in the Portuguese Cup final to lowly Aves.

You’ll be tasked with picking up the pieces and trying to get the best out of the returning Nani. Sporting have also gone 16 years without a league title, and are in serious danger of matching their worst ever drought of 18. Just don’t anger the fans any more...

Hamburg (2. Bundesliga)

Not many second-tier clubs have 67,000-seater stadiums (for ‘not many’, see none). Then again, few clubs are in the position that Hamburg find themselves in. Having been relegated for the first time in their history, the German club don’t have time to get misty-eyed about their six Bundesliga triumphs and sole European Cup win while they languish in the 2. Bundesliga – a league newly licensed in Football Manager 2019.

Your mission here, then, is to get Hamburg back to their glory days of cup wins and league titles. That’s no small task considering the haplessness of their last five seasons, not to mention the might of Bayern Munich and a re-energised Borussia Dortmund standing in your way. A long-term save.

Real Madrid (La Liga)

So this might not be the cakewalk you were expecting, as Julen Lopetegui has found out. The main challenge awaiting you is how to deal with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, in an era where los Blancos have seemingly spurned the Galactico mentality.

So do you stick with what you’ve got and develop the youth at your disposal, or twist and bring in a series of stars who can lead you into a new age? Whatever you choose, you’ve got the small matter of knocking Lionel Messi off his perch, plus the continued threat of Atletico Madrid.

Real Madrid is the best starting point for those looking to get to grips with all of the new features while having the safety net of a serious transfer budget (around £54m).

Blackburn (Championship)

Despite being the only Premier League champions to be relegated to the third tier of English football, Blackburn have hit a purple patch recently – and now it’s up to you to get them back to the Promised Land.

The likes of Bradley Dack and, yes, even Danny Graham should help you storm up the Championship table before your opposition has known what’s hit it, and you’ve got a potential fortress in Ewood Park that could humble all but the biggest of teams.

The anoraks among you can aim for some seriously impressive long-term records: Blackburn, if you get promoted, could be the first Premier League team to win the title more than two decades after winning their first. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can aim to match (or better) the club’s record FA Cup undefeated streak of 24 games, which took place between 1884 and 1886. Good luck with that.

Parma (Serie A)

Parma were one of the most iconic clubs of the 1990s, but financial hardship means they've fallen a long, long way since. Now a phoenix club going by the name of Parma Calcio 1913 after filing for bankruptcy in 2015, they’ve finally made it back to the big time after three consecutive promotions. The problem is staying there.

If the nostalgia of Football Italia is washing over you, now take a big gulp of reality: Parma are among the relegation favourites, with the only beacon of hope coming from ex-Arsenal winger (and scorer of occasional ridiculous goals), Gervinho. With little room left for wages, you need to shift players before you sign new ones.

Cincinnati (MLS)

Like LAFC last year, Cincinnati will be added to MLS for the 2019 season in March. If you feel like fast-forwarding a few months, you can be handed the reins to a team that’s looking for someone to forge its identity. Feel like bringing your own brand of Cruyff magic or Pulisball Stateside? Go ahead. Cincinnati’s destiny is very much yours to shape.

With the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney finding that crossing the Atlantic offers an enjoyable challenge in the twilight of their careers, you might be able to tempt a few others to join them. Or shun the big names altogether – it’s up to you.